Brenda Barry’s novel Seasons of Love and War has been published by Melange Publishing. Brenda lives in Roseburg, Oregon, by the Umpqua river, and has raised four children. Her husband, who was in the military for 21 years, gave her help and encouragement while writing her novel. Brenda has worked for more than three years to bring this story alive and to pay tribute to our heroes. Visit her website at www.brendaashworthbarry.com.
What is your writing process? Do you find it hard to juggle real life and writing? How do you balance the two?
Brenda Barry: I write every day, even if it’s just one page. Sometimes juggling can get a little hard but I’ve always been good at it. I spend my mornings from 7 until 10:30 reading and writing on my books. Afterwards, I have to do my chores and take care of personal things. I usually return to my writing room around 1:30 or 2 where I spend at least another two to three hours. I don’t write much at night.
What have been your biggest challenges as a writer?
BB: Not having any experience at it. I had this saga inside of me and had no clue how to get it down on paper. So, I started one sentence at a time.
Congratulations on landing a publisher. How did you go about pitching your book? How did the deal come about?
BB: I worked for months on my synopsis and the query. It took a while. The first publisher rejected me, and afterwards I sent it to another company that was on the verge of offering me a contract when one of the owners got cancer, and sadly, has now passed away. They are closing their doors after being in business for about eight years.
After I received the very sad news I started sending it out to publishers. I had one publisher who said if I changed it to a more current war she’d take it. She informed me that the Vietnam War was a black hole. Well, no way. I said to myself, “I will self publish first.”
I had sent out to about three more, and was waiting and feeling a bit discouraged because nothing was happening.
Then one late afternoon I was doing my trail walking with my husband. It was a Friday afternoon and we had just spent the entire time talking about me self-publishing. I walked back in the door and found an e-mail waiting for me. There is was, and I cried — a contract and a very sweet letter that touched my heart about my story.
Two days later I had another offer which I didn’t care for. So, I decided to sign and take the first one. I was a little disappointed when one week later I received a follow up letter from a publisher who had sent me a contract and wondered why they hadn’t heard back. I really wanted that company but had signed with another. So, beware of e-mail.
However, I am happy with my publisher and feel she is the best. She has been very supportive and they just had two of their books make Kindle’s top-ten sales. They are new, but climbing upward.
What were some of your surprises and challenges about working with a publisher?
BB: The challenge is the time frame. They are slow, so you must be patient because it’s worth it in the long run. The surprises are the support they give you, and the amount of time their artist spends getting your cover to be what you want. At least that’s my experience. The exciting thing is they cover all your costs and even if you don’t get an advance, you can call it that when they pay for so much. But beyond the money it’s the support and words of encouragement.
Please tell us about your book Seasons of Love and War.
BB: Seasons of Love and War is a five-part saga, including a prequel that is close to being done. Right now, Book One is with the publisher and Book Two is on the way. It’s a love story, but so much more.
This is a story about the Vietnam War, and two childhood sweethearts. Beth Ann Rose and Kaylob Shawn O’Brien are sheltered, naive and innocent in the northern California town of Novato, as the rest of the world experiences seismic socio-political and cultural shifts. Beth Ann, a spirited redhead, has big plans to work her way to Broadway, and Kaylob, a creative, warm, easygoing self-starter, dreams of becoming a chef and opening a restaurant. Whatever life brings them, one thing is crystal clear — they will be facing it together. They are in love; full of hope and joie de vivre.
They are both eager to launch their new life, and move south to Riverside, California, as soon as Beth Ann turns eighteen. Then, with no warning, the unthinkable happens. Kaylob is drafted into the U.S. Army. They are devastated. This shakes the foundation of their dreams, but with no other choice but to serve his country, Kaylob goes to war. As you can imagine things happen and Kaylob, on his second tour, becomes a POW who is thought to be dead.
However, sometimes having a connection can be so strong you can feel the other person and know that what you are told is not always true. The story takes you through both POVs. You will go with Kaylob through one of the worst types of POW camps, his torture and experiences. And you will be with Beth Ann as she has a nervous breakdown and finally climbs her way out of a dark hole to achieve her lifelong dream of being a Broadway star.
Life moves on for years, and she does everything in her power to make a new future for herself.
The book takes place in the 1960s and 1970s, set against the Vietnam War. What was your inspiration for the book, and this particular setting? Was it tricky to write a setting that some many people think they already know?
BB: My inspiration was the people I met as a child when I lived across from Hamilton Air Force Base. My parents managed and ran an apartment right across the street, and we had many military families. I actually had just shown up to baby sit for a neighbor, and was getting things ready when a knock came on the door. Yes, the dreaded knock. She was told her husband was shot down and missing in action, presumed dead. I saw what it did to her and I stayed with her to help out for two weeks. The other side was hearing stories from my bother who served twice in Vietnam, and talking to other vets. I also spoke with and interviewed two POWs online. I read stories and did months of research. Yes, it’s been tricky, I was told not to touch the Vietnam War. I was told the vets are really picky and don’t want any mistakes. So I’ve done my best and feel it’s as accurate as I could possibly be without being there. The whole story came to me in a dream though, but that was just the beginning. I had to take that dream and turn it into a story.
How do you go about making your characters seem real? Do you ever base characters or some of their characteristics on people you know?
BB: Oh yes. Many of the characters are based on my childhood friends and people I know. Many aspects of many people. Just aspects though, most everything about them is fiction. However, they have come to me in my dreams and told me when I was spelling a name wrong or not doing something right.
How do you go about putting tension on the page?
BB: Double checking the risk and what’s at stake. I make sure the threat is known and what the goal is. I try to leave a question. I feel that leaving a question and making your readers wonder what the answer is can be another way of creating tension.
Seasons of Love and War is the first of a series. Can you give us some hints about where the story will go in the rest of the series? When can we expect volume two?
BB: Volume two is off to the publisher next week so hopefully in Sept/Oct 2014. I’ve been told my readers will kill me they don’t get book two fairly quickly.
How did you choose to write in the Romance genre? Do you write in other genres as well?
BB: I’m not sure I’m a romance writer. I guess it’s a love story, but with so many other aspects to the story. I do not follow the formula and don’t want to be put in the box. I like to color outside the lines.
What is your best suggestion for other writers who want to be Romance writers?
BB: Well, listen to music, Listen to other stories and read, read, read.
When did you start writing?
BB: I wrote my first story in first grade, which was then turned into a Christmas play. I did some writing in college but really didn’t start writing until five years ago. That’s when I got serious.
Have you always taken it seriously, or did there come a time when you decided to turn a hobby into a career?
BB: No, not until my dream and I had to write down this story I saw about these two kids walking down a railroad track in my hometown.
How has working with a writing coach helped you?
BB: Oh my goodness, in so many ways. Lori DeBoer was my coach and I can’t even explain what she did and how much I learned from her. We worked together for almost two years. I can only say I had worked with others before I met her and she’s one-of-a-kind.
How have you been promoting your book? Are you using social media, and if so, how has that worked?
BB: I use all social media. I have a fan page with over 4,000 fans and I also use Twitter, blogs and my website. I will have a better answer when my book is out.
What other publicity is in the works?
BB: Book signings, A reporter called and is doing an interview – we have actually booked a deli that’s in the book and got the Novato Theater lined up. I have my books in a book store and a signing in a well known tea house in Redding. The library just bought my book and I am also doing direct mail and newspaper. I have been invited to do a local radio interview and I’m trying for some TV media. I have also been invited to a large luncheon as the guest of honor from a group of business women. Just today I got a review from Good Book Alerts and they not only posted a review on Seasons but blogged about me.
Brenda, thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us.Seasons of Love and War is available now at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and more.
